Richard Brown keeps Stow Creek-Shiloh Convenience Center humming

Special to The News/Dave HitchnerRichard Brown at work at Stow Creek-Shiloh Convenience Center

By Dave HitchnerSpecial to The News

STOW CREEK TWP. — On one of the first 80-degree days of this spring, Sunday, April 15, a special day was recognized by the Philadelphia Phillies during their game against the New York Mets.

In fact, every Major League Baseball game held that day was played in commemoration of Jackie Robinson.

It had been 65 years since “Jackie” had broken the color barrier in professional baseball, playing in his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

As I thought about that day and a recent interview, I felt there were similarities between such a pioneer as “Jackie” and Richard Brown.

Back in the day, “Brownie” was a 19-year-old just trying to find his place in this world. He attended Stow Creek Township Elementary School, but wasn’t able to finish high school, as he was expected to work in fields to help support the family.

Now a widower, Richard and his wife, Josie Mae, had 10 children, five boys and five girls. Of his children, Kendall helps support his father at the Stow Creek Convenience Center. One of his daughters, Priscilla Logan, has been seen helping out, too. His only sister had seven children.

Although he often moved around, his entire life has been spent in the Stow Creek Township area, except for his three-year stint in the U.S. Army. While enlisted, Richard completed his high school education and was able to see the other side of the world while stationed in Korea and Japan.

Returning to his South Jersey home after his tour of duty was completed, Richard worked in the tomato industry helping farm for Dick Smith and his mentor, Everett Sheppard. But the one who influenced him the most was his mother, Pricilla “Tootie” Brown.

For about the past 12 years, the 83-year-old (often with some assistance from his family) oversees the Stow Creek-Shiloh Convenience Center. During his tenure there, Richard has seen his responsibilities go from just greeting (and confirming) his weekly residents from Stow Creek and Shiloh to now insuring a separation of refuse into containers for trash, glass/plastic, oil, antifreeze, cardboard and newspaper.

“Recycling is very important today. There’s so much waste today and nowhere to put it. That’s why we need to reuse whatever materials we can,” Brownie explained.Not one to express his personal thoughts publicly regarding government or religion, Richard just learns about his community because he “just sees and hears a lot” as caretaker of the landfill.

Asked how our communities could improve, Richard responded, “I just wish parents would take more responsibility for their children. It disappoints me to see the disrespect so many children show others today. Growing up, we didn’t have much, but didn’t complain. But we were taught to respect others. We had what was important in life, and you can’t buy that!”

Richard Brown — just being helpful, dependable, and a regular guy who contributes one day at a time.

Dave Hitchner is a retired educator and a lifelong local resident. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow appears each week in The News.